~ 76 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2015; 4(4): 76-81 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2015; 4(4): 76-81 Received: 07-09-2015 Accepted: 11-10-2015 Malvika Bana Food Processing Technology Laboratory, USBT, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector-16 C, Dwarka, New Delhi- 110078, India. Rajinder K Gupta Food Processing Technology Laboratory, USBT, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector-16 C, Dwarka, New Delhi- 110078, India. Correspondence: Rajinder K Gupta Food Processing Technology Laboratory, USBT, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector-16 C, Dwarka, New Delhi- 110078, India. Sector-16 C, Dwarka, New Delhi- 110078, India. Email: rkg67ap@yahoo.com Formulation, nutritional and phytochemical analysis of ready to mix infant Food using Gorgon Nut, Samak Rice and Banana powder Malvika Bana, Rajinder K Gupta Abstract The objective of the study was to develop nutritious, accessible and stable infant food formulation which would improve cognitive and behavior abilities of Indian children. Two formulations (F1 and F2) based on Gorgon Nut (Euryale ferox), Samak rice (Echinochloa colonum) and Banana Powder (Musa cavendish) were prepared in which milk powder and sugar were added to increase the solubility and taste of the product. The formulation with better taste was accepted and further testing procedures were performed on the best formulation (F1). The formulation was prepared according to daily nutritional requirements and composed to reach an equal energy value around 400 Kcal/100g. It was found that the formulations are rich in dietary fiber content with 18.94% dietary fiber in F1 and 17.33% dietary fiber in F2. The mineral analysis of the formulation (F1) showed that they are rich in Calcium (180 ppm), Magnesium (230 ppm), Phosphorus (765 ppm), Iron (23.75 ppm) and Zinc (12.50 ppm) content. Solvent extract of raw formulation has revealed that it has total phenolic content 16.71µg GAE / mg extract and has total flavonoid content 85.26 µg CE / mg extract. Keywords: Gorgun Nut (Euryale ferox), Samak Rice (Echinochloa colonum), Banana Powder (Musa cavendish), Antioxidant, Phytochemical, Phenol, Flavanol, Antibacterial 1. Introduction Infant food can be described as an easily consumed food, other than breast milk that is designed specifically for infants, specifically between the ages of four to six months and two years [1] . Infant foods are supposed to be any easily chewed food, whether it is in solid, liquid or paste form. When the mother’s milk or nursing formula is not suitable or sufficient for child’s appetite, then there is a typical requirement of infant formula to feed the baby properly. Infant foods are available in various flavors and multiple varieties in the market or it can be any normal food that has been mashed or broken down into very small pieces. As babies do not have teeth to chew solid foods, so care should be taken as the food containing vegetables or fruits can cause a choking hazard. Babies can be given aqueous based food containing pureed vegetables and fruits which can be mixed with rice or other cereal formula, or breast milk. As the baby start growing and able to chew, small and soft pieces or lumps may be included in their food. Babies with teeth have the ability to break off pieces of food, but they do not have the back molars teeth to grind, so food should be carefully mashed or pre-mashed, or it can be broken into smaller pieces by the parents for their baby [1] . Infant food can be separated into various categories based on the different ingredients used; as cereal based foods, fruit/vegetable based infant foods or they can be categorized on the basis of taste i.e. sweet and salty foods, savory foods etc. Nutritional need of Infants: Newborns need a diet of breast milk or infant formula. The main energy source in the milk comes from carbohydrates, mostly from a simple sugar called lactose, which is 40% in weightage. By the age of two, toddlers need a diet having a greater carbohydrate level, around 55% [14] . Several studies have indicated that the consumption of cereal based products or fruit and vegetables had decreased incidences of diseases like coronary heart disease, aging, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease [2] . Studies indicate that a diet rich in antioxidant phytochemicals such as poly-phenolics, carotenoids, flavonoids and terpenoids protects against cellular damage due to its potency to scavenge oxygen-derived free radicals and serves lifelong terms [3, 4, 5] . Various researchers focused their study on developing nutritious; accessible and stable infants